Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-04-28


armed with one Of these, given the coun-
tersign and put or his cheat" perhaps be-
tween hickory tree and white oak
stump the new soldier felt all the dignity
ofhis position by day and tho full weight
OF his responsibilities at night. At this
period words from the Eastern army were
most in favor for coalats;siga ;such as BURN
Side" "Kearney,' "Hoalzer" "Chicka-
hominy" "Potorlac,n Rapahannoclz, etc.
After nlght the guard allowed no ono to
/ approach without challenge, when, if the
party purported TO be friend, no was re-
CURED to whisper the countersign over the
musket's lengta with bayonet attached.
Before regimental organization had been
perfected, the writer, with two comrades,
procured d Through to visit home for a
few days. They arrived By rail within
twenty miles Of their destination ct nine
ono night. Tio1o was limited, so it
wac resolved to foot il homo that very
night After walking about five hours the
homo Of ono Of tae party in the country
was reaeaes, aad to save timo and get 10
sleep as soon us possible, it was decided to
slip in the house quietly and 60 to bed at
oRee. Accordingly, guided by tho coErade
whose family occupied the house, all were
soon disposed Of, and, being exceedingly
weary, quickly went to sleep.
The writer occupied the front of one bed
md orc of his comrades the back. Allslept
late and at the breakfast table the next
morning the lady Of the house. matronly
woman, said to the writer:
"Dida't snow | kissed you awhile ago,
I'D you? Well she continued, II went
INTO The spare room and first thing I saw
was soldiers clothes and on tho pillow ]
saw face which thought was my J ANS
and you better believe / gave 1t Oae good
KISS But don't care, it was a soldier any
wayp
Blessed be the memory OF her patriotic
heart; before the war ended, four Of her
sons lost their lives in the country's serv-
ice. Not many sacrificed SO much, aye
few gave SO much to sustain the Nations
life, even in those troublous times when
sacrifice and patriotic gifts were so COM
mon. After a few days spent most pleas
antly at home, the writer returned to his
company.
Newly-formed regiments Of men were
outside and all about tho Enclosure ct
Camp Butler, encamped in tents. After
staying in tho barracks about two months
1 the writer remembers being detailed for
guard duty one beautiful Sabbath day.
Guard duty necessitated q soldier sabseGce
from his quarters for twenty-four hours,
I though he would actually be on his boat
with musket in hand but one-third of the
tmc-two hours out OF every SIX. The
timo referred to, the writer's two hours
for duty came Just before daylight Mon
4 day morning. Looking through the fence
/ about sunrise, where regiment was en-
/ camped just outside, several groups were
Il seen eating breakfast, and these were not
/ composed wholly OF men, but were made
/ NJ Of women, girls and children rs well.
I Looking closer il was seen that they
+ were eating chicken, turkey, cake, pie,
+ freshly-baGsd bread and good butter, bis
F Gait aad doaghnuts. By this time the man
on tho next beat mad joined the writer,
and the effect the scene had upon the two
+ soldiers within the. inclosure can never be
+ appreciated by the reader who has not had
/ q similar experience. The wives, sisters
i and children Of these more fortunate SOL
+ dicrs HAD evidently come to spend sea-
son with their friends and had brought
such eatables as they knew would be ap-
+ preciated-fcr the time had thus literally
4 transferred homo lifo to camp.
Late in October, ten companies, includ-
ing the one to which the writer belonged,
/ were mustered into tho United States
+ service The afternoon was cold and raw,
and tho ceremony was not enjoyed. Next
+ 4fOfHtHE was GfiGH5 una warm, uilu JHO
/ nowly-formed regiment was marched out
side the Enclosure and formed in line, when
the Colonel 1feutenant-C Colonel and Major
j each made short speeches.
The new organization was at once put
under q Dutch drili-master, g short little
i. fellow with a red face, mustacho and
goatee He wore G cap, blue blouse and
q sword that dragged the lower end Of its
scabbarl on the ground. lie gave his COM
mands in quick, nervous broken English
"TENYAN, 'PIrALYAS FA'RD MARCH, BY
+ COMPANIES, RIGHT ,vEELp
When tho evolutions 81 the green regi-
ricnt were faulty, it was amusing to hear
the Seeding il broken English from the
drill-master.
Pretty soon the regiment received its
arms, Austrian riflod-muskets, these with
cartridge boxes, containing the ammuni-
ton, cantaens in which to carry water, hav-
er-sacks- pouches made Of heavy cotton
& goodsfor rations, l1napsacis and blankets,
funy equipped the command.